Retired NCMC instructor, William (Bill) Oesterling (73) passed away peacefully at his Trenton Missouri home on Tuesday morning 11/22/2011. A memorial service including military rights is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Trenton . Reverend Barry Boulware will officiate and the family will receive visitors one hour prior to service time. A second service will be held St Lukes Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania at a later date.
Mr. Oesterling was born in Butler , Pennsylvania on July 17, 1938. He was the son of the late Leland Oesterling and Marcella Grabe Oesterling. He married Catherine (Cathy) King on November 25, 1970.
He is survived by his wife, Cathy, daughter Martha Jane West, husband, Chris and two grandchildren, Stella Jane and Cale Christopher of Overland Park , Kansas . Five sisters Janice Fry and Evelyn Cypher of Butler, Pennsylvania. Eleanor England of Orlando, Florida, Kay Kuhn of Howell, Michigan and Karen Mulligan of New Jersey Two brothers Charles Oesterling of Butler, Pa and Ronald Oesterling of East Lansing, Michigan. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Oesterling graduated from Mars High School in Mars Pennsylvania in 1956. Following his graduation. He attended Capital University in Columbus , Ohio . In 1958, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served until 1962.
In 1965, Mr. Oesterling graduated from Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania . He then moved to Missouri and started his teaching career at the University of Missouri-Rolla. He taught in the Social Sciences Department for three years. During that time he pursued a Master of Arts in History at the University of Missouri-Columbia and attained that degree in 1971
In 1970, Mr. Oesterling accepted a teaching position at NCMC as an instructor of European and American history. While there he served as the Head of the … Department and was the advisor to both Phi Theta Kappa and the Student Senate. He studied abroad at the University of Cambridge for a study leave semester. In 2003, after 33 years, he retired from NCMC as Professor Emeritus.
Mr. Oesterling was a historian. Over the years, his love for history grew. His most important audience was his students at NCMC. He had a great knowledge and appreciation of the arts. During his time as a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church He sang with the Wesley Singers and in the Channel Choir. He also sang in the Brothers of Song and served on a number of Wesley’s committees. Mr. Oesterling was involved with community theater for several years in both Rolla and Trenton . Mr. Oesterling was also a member of the American Legion.
Mr. Oesterling was an avid reader. In addition he enjoyed nature, hunting and fishing Bill was a seasoned traveler. In his youth, he made frequent fishing trips to northern Canada . While in the military, he spent two years in Hawaii . After establishing his career as an educator, he and his family spent a year in Great Britain and included a tour of Europe during their time there.
In later years he toured much of the United States . As a historian he took particular notice of the Anasazi ruins in the Southwest as well as The Black Hills and Wounded Knee in the Dakotas . He also included the visitation of many historic American battlefields in his travels. As in other areas of his life, Bill’s travels reflected his inquisitive nature and his continued fascination for the world in which he lived
Bill derived great happiness from his family and in his final years received great joy with the arrival of his grandchildren, Stella and Cale
In addition to Cathy, Martha, Chris, Stella and Cale, his two brothers, five sisters thirty one nieces and nephews as well as dozens of great nieces and nephews, Bill leaves numerous friends, colleagues and students whose lives he touched and who in turn touched his.
He is preceded in death by his parents as well as one brother, Keith L. Oesterling; and three sisters Doris M. Oesterling, Lea Montag and Carol Greenawalt.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to NCMC or to the Wesley United Methodist memorial fund.
Kathy, Martha and the rest of Bill’s family would like to express their deep and heartfelt appreciation for all of the support and caring gestures provided by family, friends and care givers during his long illness. .
Mr. Oesterling graduated from Mars High School in Mars Pennsylvania in 1956. Following his graduation. He attended Capital University in Columbus , Ohio . In 1958, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served until 1962.
In 1965, Mr. Oesterling graduated from Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania . He then moved to Missouri and started his teaching career at the University of Missouri-Rolla. He taught in the Social Sciences Department for three years. During that time he pursued a Master of Arts in History at the University of Missouri-Columbia and attained that degree in 1971
In 1970, Mr. Oesterling accepted a teaching position at NCMC as an instructor of European and American history. While there he served as the Head of the … Department and was the advisor to both Phi Theta Kappa and the Student Senate. He studied abroad at the University of Cambridge for a study leave semester. In 2003, after 33 years, he retired from NCMC as Professor Emeritus.
Mr. Oesterling was a historian. Over the years, his love for history grew. His most important audience was his students at NCMC. He had a great knowledge and appreciation of the arts. During his time as a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church He sang with the Wesley Singers and in the Channel Choir. He also sang in the Brothers of Song and served on a number of Wesley’s committees. Mr. Oesterling was involved with community theater for several years in both Rolla and Trenton . Mr. Oesterling was also a member of the American Legion.
Mr. Oesterling was an avid reader. In addition he enjoyed nature, hunting and fishing Bill was a seasoned traveler. In his youth, he made frequent fishing trips to northern Canada . While in the military, he spent two years in Hawaii . After establishing his career as an educator, he and his family spent a year in Great Britain and included a tour of Europe during their time there.
In later years he toured much of the United States . As a historian he took particular notice of the Anasazi ruins in the Southwest as well as The Black Hills and Wounded Knee in the Dakotas . He also included the visitation of many historic American battlefields in his travels. As in other areas of his life, Bill’s travels reflected his inquisitive nature and his continued fascination for the world in which he lived
Bill derived great happiness from his family and in his final years received great joy with the arrival of his grandchildren, Stella and Cale
In addition to Cathy, Martha, Chris, Stella and Cale, his two brothers, five sisters thirty one nieces and nephews as well as dozens of great nieces and nephews , Bill leaves numerous friends, colleagues and students whose lives he touched and who in turn touched his.
He is preceded in death by his parents as well as one brother, Keith L. Oesterling; and three sisters Doris M. Oesterling, Lea Montag and Carol Greenawalt.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to NCMC or to the Wesley United Methodist Church, they can be left at or mailed to Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home, 813 Custer, Trenton, MO 64683
Kathy, Martha and the rest of Bill’s family would like to express their deep and heartfelt appreciation for all of the support and caring gestures provided by family, friends and care givers during his long illness.
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